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Chapter 136
A Tool for Revenge?
Ann was still processing the whole adoption idea when the meeting was finally wrapped up. They were divided into groups—those who would begin the paperwork for the adoption, those tasked with addressing the Claritianta family’s involvement, and others assigned to begin subtly spreading Ann’s new background story across noble society.
Trailing behind Allen, who was deep in conversation with Prince Kiehl, Ann’s gaze drifted. She spotted Viscount Jonas and Viscountess Vanessa walking over to where Faye and Fina were seated.
Looking at the scene, Ann’s mind seemed to have found an enlightenment on what she felt was odd about this whole adoption idea.
“Allen, I’ll be right there, just a second,” Ann said to Allen before she slipped away and headed towards the Doussier couple.
Just as her questions bubbled to the surface, her eyes met Viscountess Vanessa’s piercing gaze.
“Uhm, Viscountess, I—!”
“It seems we have much to discuss. I’ll send you an invitation soon,” the Viscountess replied smoothly, as though anticipating what Ann wanted to talk about.
“Ah… okay,” Ann nodded, flustered.
***
It didn’t take long before the Doussier couple’s invitation arrived at the Schwartzen manor.
During the waiting period, Allen was too busy with work that he barely met Ann. Ann could understand, since the whole matter about her was too complicated and it would surely make him busy.
Since the adoption hadn’t gone through, Faye resumed her activities as Ann’s personal maid. Fina could be seen tailing Faye.
The manor’s staff were confused by Birdie’s sudden disappearance and the mysterious appearance of a little girl that’s like a human personification of Birdie, but since their master didn’t say anything, they didn’t dare to ask or comment anything about it.
Allen had informed Gwen beforehand of what was going on, and she was in charge of making sure that the workers in the residence behaved accordingly.
When Ann received the invitation from the Doussier couple, she was a bit surprised–yet quickly understood–upon reading that Viscountess Vanessa instructed her to bring Faye and Fina over as well.
So, the three of them departed the very next day to answer their parents-to-be’s invitation.
***
“Welcome!”
The greeting at the Doussier residence was so warm and well-prepared that it felt like they’d been expecting them all along. The three were ushered into the garden, where Viscountess Vanessa and Viscount Jonas were enjoying a relaxed tea time under the shade.
The viscount’s face obviously brightened seeing the three of them. Viscountess Vanessa didn’t show much of a reaction, but she seemed to be in a good mood as she sipped her tea calmly.
Viscount Jonas quickly approached Faye and Fina, his expression softening as he invited them to walk around the garden with him. Meanwhile, he instructed Ann to stay behind and accompany his wife.
The viscountess only saw the whole scene as if it had gone exactly as what they had discussed beforehand. Ann luckily could read the room and obeyed. She took the seat opposite of the Viscountess, the seat that the viscount had occupied until just now.
A maid approached and politely asked Ann for her tea preference.
“Anything is fine,” Ann replied, to which the maid nodded and began brewing.
The two women sat in silence for a moment, quietly sipping their tea while watching the Viscount play with the children in the distance. Eventually, the Viscountess broke the silence.
“You must have questions,” she said.
Ann took a deep breath. She was quite sure by now that this woman was extraordinarily sharp, and she found herself respecting her more and more.
Ann nodded, a bit nervous, as she said…
“I am not yet accustomed with how the nobles talk, so I can’t really give a flowery sentence or anything like that, so may I get straight to the point?” Ann asked.
“I just so happen to dislike such flowery empty courtesies. So go ahead,” Viscountess Vanessa said without batting an eye.
So, Ann really did go straight to the point.
“I can understand why you took a fancy to Faye and decided to adopt her. She’s too adorable and I wish I could’ve adopted her as well–”
She couldn’t continue her sentence when she saw the viscountess’ slight frown, perhaps due to how Ann and Faye’s physical look made it seem more fitting for them to be sisters than Ann having Faye as a daughter.
Ann cleared her throat nervously. Crap, I forgot that the body I am occupying is younger than my mental age. I shouldn’t have said that.
“But I am wondering why you decided to adopt me… and Fina as well, while you’re at it,” Ann asked, trying to gloss over the awkward moment they had just now.
She was thinking that the Doussier family deciding to adopt her was akin to doing the Schwartzen family and the royal family a favor, since it’d be in the name only, so perhaps it was bearable.
But what made her wonder is the fact that they would want to take Fina in… as an adopted child too, no less.
“I am aware of the Doussier family’s history. My… I mean this body’s biological family caused, uhm, the tragedy that befell your sons, though indirectly. And, you know Fina is… so technically…”
Ann didn’t have the courage to finish her sentence. She didn’t even dare to speak clearly.
Technically, both she and Fina were the former king’s daughters—one in body (Ann), the other in soul (Fina).
Isn’t that painful for both the viscount and the viscountess?
Ann couldn’t understand this decision, no matter how she thought of it.
Shouldn’t it cause them much reluctance to even adopt her, for her biological body was that of the previous king’s daughter’s?
They could weigh the pros and cons from this move, so that might justify why they agreed with her adoption.
But as for Fina… They really didn’t have to. There’s no benefit for them from this move.
So, Ann was doubtful and confused.
“As I said before, you saved Faye. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have met her. That alone is a huge merit for us. I know you understand about this, so I’ll be frank. Adopting you also benefits us in a way that it means we are doing a favor for the royal family as well as the Schwartzen family. But putting that aside, you’re not bad. Frankly, I’d say this body is much better off with you in it.”
“Huh…?” Ann had a problem trying to digest what the viscountess was trying to say.
As if noticing Ann’s confusion, Viscountess Vanessa added, “You won’t disgrace the Doussier name. I wouldn’t have agreed to this if I thought otherwise.”
Wait… was that praise?
Did she actually like me? She must like me, even for a little… right?
Ann wasn’t sure how to interpret this noblewoman’s tsundere-like bluntness, but it gave her a spark of hope.
“As for the youngest… She’s a bird halfling too, just like Faye. They seem like a pair of blood-related sisters. It will help Faye to have her by her side. Both are bird-halflings who will be navigating their new lives as noble daughters. I am sure there are things that they won’t be able to share with us as the adoptive parents, and not even with you, but they can share with each other,” Viscountess Vanessa explained.
“Hmmm… That is true,” Ann nodded.
Wait… Is this all just for Faye’s sake, then? But what about Fina?
Ann felt a bit worried.
“Do not worry.”
“Eek!” Ann almost jumped from her chair. She clearly didn’t voice anything.
Could Viscountess Vanessa be a mind reader?!
Viscountess Vanessa lightly shook her head. This child is too easy to read. We’ll need to fix that…
“We’ve seen how much Fina depends on Faye. Separating them would do her no good. That’s why we’ll raise them together.”
“But she… I mean… you know…”
Ann wasn’t sure about this. Does the Viscountess really have no idea about Fina’s origin? Should she hide it, if that is the case? But it’d be better to be upfront about everything since she’d be her parent…
“…I know of her origins,” Viscountess Vanessa said as she sipped her tea.
“Then…”
“That bastard twerp took my sons from me. What is a better revenge if not for me taking his daughter? He would be seething in anger, while I will gain two daughters from him,” Viscountess Vanessa said with grace.
“Huh…” Ann didn’t think that they could put it that way.
It was revenge. Unexpected… elegant revenge.
The previous king made her lose her two sons, but she was able to snatch his daughter, and thus gaining two daughters… hmhm…
Ah but…
Ann was a bit concerned. She was alright with herself, but if poor Fina were to grow up neglected because her adoption was simply due to revenge and due to Faye’s sake…
She was mulling over how she could ask the viscountess about it.
“…You’re way too easy to read. My first instruction as your adoptive mother would be to fix that,” Viscountess Vanessa commented.
“Eep…,” Ann almost splurted her tea.
Okay, I am 85% sure that the viscountess has the ability to read minds…?!
“There must be a reason why you decided against exterminating that child’s soul and going as far as wanting to give her another chance, though it meant you needed to go through risks and harder ways. What is it that you saw?” Viscountess Vanessa asked.
Sharp, she’s too sharp!
“I saw her past… Her memories…,” Ann recounted.
“Tell me what you saw.”
“She… was just too pitiful. Even though she was a princess, she wasn’t really loved. I thought it wasn’t purely her fault that she turned out to be like that. And I don’t think that justifies punishing her by erasing her forever. The people around her failed her first. If I can give her another chance, why shouldn’t I?” Ann said.
At the very least, if she could be expelled from this body and still gain another chance by getting reincarnated, I’d be fine proceeding.
But the procedure of forcefully expelling her soul out from her own body was to be combined with exterminating her soul, once and for all, so… I couldn’t just agree to that. It wasn’t even 100% her fault.
She wasn’t born a devil. She became a monster, simply as a product of her upbringing and environment.
“It’s true that I also feel guilty for snatching her body and being able to be happy with it. Imagine how frustrating it is for her. She can’t be happy, but an outsider who snatched her body can? I just think it is unfair,” Ann said.
“…,” Ann didn’t notice, but Vanessa’s eyes moved in slight admiration towards her.
“I see. Was she neglected?” Viscountess Vanessa.
“Uhm, kind of. I think the people around her only viewed her as a tool. Her value was measured based on how useful she can be,” Ann said with a hint of sadness.
“As I thought,” Viscountess Vanessa said.
“Huh?”
“The princess that nobody knew anything of. That was her. Us nobility knew many things about the princes–her brothers, but nothing of her. It just felt odd, especially since she’s the king and the queen’s only child. There was no celebration of her birthday, no celebration of any milestones. She never really made a formal public appearance. It was as if the royal family was hiding her intentionally. As if she wasn’t presentable. I was wondering why. They only mentioned that she was too frail and shy, but I don’t think that would suffice as a reason to not even hold any celebration for her birthday. She never appeared during her family’s birthday celebrations,” Viscountess Vanessa recounted.
“Oh… Is it because of… her magic?” Ann had an inclination.
“Pure Water Magic, was it?” Viscountess Vanessa asked.
Ann nodded.
“They can claim that they did it to protect her, but I see that it is because they are ashamed and think of her as an embarrassment of the royal family.”
“Right…,” Ann said.
Pure Water magic female user… is considered a furnace. The perfect human incubator, to the people of this world. That is way too degrading.
Moreover, I’ve seen how the queen had gone mad and how she had to be raised by the consort… who purposely tried to make her appear to be more of an embarrassment that the royal family couldn’t show off.
Ann thought as she tried to recall the cutscenes she saw back then.
She then looked at Viscountess Vanessa and thought to herself.
Wait. This lady is so sharp, I think she’d be able to surmise Anne’s circumstances from the previous royal family’s situation. Is that perhaps why she didn’t seem to harbor any ill will towards Anne, who was only regarded as a pawn by her own family?
As if noticing Ann’s thought, Viscountess Vanessa sighed and put back her empty cup of tea.
“I do think she’s pitiful. She is as much a victim of her family as we are. Sure, it doesn’t justify her wrongdoings, but…,” Viscountess Vanessa looked at Fina from afar.
“Since she has a completely new beginning, thanks to you, we will make sure to raise her to be someone who can make up for her past wrongdoings. Right, someone who can do a lot of good deeds to make up for her past mistakes,” Viscountess Vanessa said.
Ann looked at Viscountess Vanessa and saw a hint of tenderness on her gaze that was on Fina.
She finally felt relieved.
If that is the viscountess’ answer, I think I can safely entrust Fina to this family.
Only then could Ann properly taste the tea that she was sipping.
Mm, it’s gentle and a bit sweet.
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